Depositing monthly social security payments linto WISE

danfinn said. . . .  I recall reading WISE advertisements a few years ago suggesting that Americans deposit their SSA payments directly into WISE. But when I checked recently, I can see that WISE has stopped recommending this. Perhaps there wasn't enough response from new depositors.
From what I can see, WISE does provide what appears to be a regular US style checking account complete with account number, routing number and even a SWIFT number. But we cannot call WISE a bank, it is a remittance company. Anyway, it seems I should be able to change my current bank to WISE for monthly ACH deposits. However, before I try that I would like to check with other American expats on the forum to see if they have successfully done this.

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Yes I remember receiving that email also, but thinking it was interesting, I did not delete it.

So your post got me thinking about it. In the states I have savings & checking accounts with Citibank. From time to time if I exceed my monthly expenses, then I loan myself money from my savings account to my checking account and repay myself when my ss arrives. (No transfer fee between accounts.)

If a payee is not on my Citibank bill payer, I can create one. So I have my grandson added for his birthday, then Citibank mails him a check. (FREE).

I like the Free bill pay from Citibank, also I have things on auto pay, life insurance, Netflix, Etcetera. No fees for this.

I like to keep my money in the USA, I have suspicions about Wise, when I do a transfer using Wise the money arrives in seconds.

How is that possible?

I'm thinking in the competitive world, Wise is advancing me the money maybe before they even receive it.

For me, If it ain't broken don't fix it, so why reinvent the wheel?
   

   

The problem with USA banks is their 2FA that requires a certain type of USA phone number to receive texts for their online banking and now my current situation, where they just now require a USA ip address, making me use a VPN. How long my current USA phone number will work with what I have, or if it ever figures out I am using a VPN proxy server, is anybody's guess. I can still work through these security updates for now but the situation only seems to get worse with time. Most banks don't like serving citizens overseas and that also includes Schwab brokerage accounts for people who might suggest that. You have to register a US address with them. I think Citi has a large presence in the Philippines but there is a wall between citi us and citi Phils. For example, I applied and received a citi USA credit card but was declined a citi Phils credit card, probably due to age or no Philippines income source. So I dropped the citi us credit card. Anyway, I am looking for alternative institutions for USA checking and savings for when my current bank finally makes online banking in the Philippines impossible. At least WISE is subject to US banking rules for USD accounts although all they have is checking. Wise also requires a registered USA address too but they seem to have updated 2FA options as an alternative to text that I can handle here, including Microsoft authenticator instead of texting a code. They give a US brick and mortar address for their checking product. If this has not been adopted by other expats to give it some credibility, I will probably not consider them. For anyone who may suggest it, having SSA deposit to a Philippines bank is not a starter for me. Telephone banking with my current bank will always work for me (I think) using magicjack but that 1980's method is way too slow.

danfinn said . . . . The problem with USA banks is their 2FA that requires a certain type of USA phone number to receive texts for their online banking and now my current situation, where they just now require a USA ip address, making me use a VPN. How long my current USA phone number will work with what I have, or if it ever figures out I am using a VPN proxy server, is anybody's guess. I can still work through these security updates for now but the situation only seems to get worse with time. Most banks don't like serving citizens overseas and that also includes Schwab brokerage accounts for people who might suggest that. You have to fake a US address with them. I think Citi has a large presence in the Philippines but there is a wall between citi us and citi Phils. For example, I applied and received a citi USA credit card but was declined a citi Phils credit card, probably due to age or no Philippines income source. So I dropped the citi us credit card. Anyway, I am looking for alternative institutions for USA checking and savings for when my current bank finally makes online banking in the Philippines impossible. At least WISE is subject to US banking rules for USD accounts although all they have is checking. Wise also requires a fake USA address but they seem to have updated 2FA options as an alternative to text that I can handle here, including Microsoft authenticator instead of texting a code. They give a US brick and mortar address for their checking product. If this has not been adopted by other expats to give it some credibility, I will probably not consider them. For anyone who may suggest it, having SSA deposit to a Philippines bank is not a starter for me. Telephone banking with my current bank will always work for me (I think) using magicjack but that 1980's method is way too slow.
   

   

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Citibank Philippines has pulled out of the Philippines and many other markets.  You're using Magic Jack & a v.o.i.p.. I ran a speed check (computer) using my VPN and speed check detected I was using a VPN.

Every time I have a workaround for banks, they come up with changes to thwart it. So it appears they can recognize  a v.o.i.p. and VPN.

I'm using Ooma Telo, I only use my v.o.i.p when my Philippine i.p. is blocked. My v.o.i.p is too slow for watching movies.

Lately I've had trouble receiving sms from Wise, so now I'm getting a phone call from them instead (Philippine cell number). Citibank USA (checking & savings) has my Philippine number for verification when needed.

Citibank & Wise are the only two step verification I'm concerned with, otherwise I would be lost. I also receive two step verification by email from some others.

My US mailing address is with US Global Mail. I have all the credit cards I need, two of them are low interest obtained many years ago. Originally 7.75% & 8.25%, of course it has gone up with the prime rate, I think I'm paying 6% plus prime.

    danfinn said . . . . The problem with USA banks is their 2FA that requires a certain type of USA phone number to receive texts for their online banking and now my current situation, where they just now require a USA ip address, making me use a VPN. How long my current USA phone number will work with what I have, or if it ever figures out I am using a VPN proxy server, is anybody's guess. I can still work through these security updates for now but the situation only seems to get worse with time. Most banks don't like serving citizens overseas and that also includes Schwab brokerage accounts for people who might suggest that. You have to fake a US address with them. I think Citi has a large presence in the Philippines but there is a wall between citi us and citi Phils. For example, I applied and received a citi USA credit card but was declined a citi Phils credit card, probably due to age or no Philippines income source. So I dropped the citi us credit card. Anyway, I am looking for alternative institutions for USA checking and savings for when my current bank finally makes online banking in the Philippines impossible. At least WISE is subject to US banking rules for USD accounts although all they have is checking. Wise also requires a fake USA address but they seem to have updated 2FA options as an alternative to text that I can handle here, including Microsoft authenticator instead of texting a code. They give a US brick and mortar address for their checking product. If this has not been adopted by other expats to give it some credibility, I will probably not consider them. For anyone who may suggest it, having SSA deposit to a Philippines bank is not a starter for me. Telephone banking with my current bank will always work for me (I think) using magicjack but that 1980's method is way too slow.        *************************Citibank Philippines has pulled out of the Philippines and many other markets.  You're using Magic Jack & a v.o.i.p.. I ran a speed check (computer) using my VPN and speed check detected I was using a VPN.Every time I have a workaround for banks, they come up with changes to thwart it. So it appears they can recognize  a v.o.i.p. and VPN.I'm using Ooma Telo, I only use my v.o.i.p when my Philippine i.p. is blocked. My v.o.i.p is too slow for watching movies.Lately I've had trouble receiving sms from Wise, so now I'm getting a phone call from them instead (Philippine cell number). Citibank USA (checking & savings) has my Philippine number for verification when needed.Citibank & Wise are the only two step verification I'm concerned with, otherwise I would be lost. I also receive two step verification by email from some others. My US mailing address is with US Global Mail. I have all the credit cards I need, two of them are low interest obtained many years ago. Originally 7.75% & 8.25%, of course it has gone up with the prime rate, I think I'm paying 6% plus prime.        -@Enzyte Bob

I found there is no one answer that applies to everyone when it applies to 2FA texting. If i give my bank my magicjack number, the voip does not work for text but I have been able to get the code by voice in the past. I am not sure if that is true today but definitely text does not work with my bank for magicjack. However, telephone banking does work with MJ. I did set up Google voice years ago and based it on my magicjack number which itself was a ported landline phone actually from ooma, but I left the ooma equipment in the USA. Prior to that it was an ATT voip roadrunner phone and Vonage voip. I found that my google voice number DOES work for 2FA text for both my bank and a separate credit card. Of course, Google voice would also be voip but it still works for 2FA text, for every USA financial app I have for some reason; I have no idea why.

As for WISE, Bob take a look at the new 2FA security options it has. There nowc3: There is text  to a US phone (as we have been discussing) but there is also direct authorization to the WISE app on your phone (approved device) and also to an authenticator, Microsoft or Google or other. I am used to those authenticators from login.gov (SSA) and ID.me (IRS). I have no problem using them.  Wise calls the text to usa phone least secure and suggest you add the other 2 options to your WISE which is what I did...excellent, no more text to a usa phone number. It would be great if the other banks and cc card companies added those to  their 2FA methods in the future as well.  But these banks may (or may not) prefer the text to USA phone method to determine if you are in the USA. But with WISE allowing Microsoft authenticator or auth by app on approved device for 2FA, that seems the best way for now to get around the text over VOIP problem. If my bank ultimately makes it impossible for me to do online banking from here, WISE does seem to be an alternative (perhaps with some risk). That is why I created the thread,  When I go back home in coming months I will talk with my bank and cc card issuer. Whatever I decide to do, I will meet with them first in the US.

My wise uses a Philippines address and i have USD. the only issue is i am limited to ₱400k in transfers a month into any if my currencies. so far that has not been an issue. So it shouldn’t be an issue to use WISE.